Abstract: A selection device for pruning machines is designed to select branches or sprouts for pruning performed by the pruning machine. The selection device includes at least one fixing portion adapted for removably fixing to a pruning machine. The selection device includes at least one actuator designed to exert a force upon the branches and sprouts, thus moving them to cause the branches or sprouts selected for the pruning to be arranged in correspondence to cutting elements provided in the pruning machine, hence at least partially preserving the other branches or sprouts from pruning. A frame is designed to at least partially support the at least one actuator. At least one regulating mechanism is fixed to the frame, is associated with at least one actuator, and is designed to regulate at least the direction along which a force is exerted by at least one associated actuator.

Abstract: A pruning system (1; 20) for planting rows (F) includes a frame (2) suited to support a pruning assembly (3; 30). The pruning assembly (3; 30) includes a first pruning assembly (3) in which it is possible to identify a plurality of cutting units (4) that are independent of and spaced from one another, the cutting units (4) being mechanically associated with the frame (2) through a plurality of first supporting rods (6) suited to allow the movement of the cutting units (4) according to an orthogonal direction with respect to the alignment direction of the planting rows (F). The supporting frame (2) can be associated with structure (7) for moving the frame (2) and the pruning assembly (3; 30) that are suited to make the pruning assembly (3; 30) assume different operating positions according to a parallel direction with respect to the alignment direction of the planting rows (F).

Abstract: An agriculture vehicle has a mobile body and an arm. The arm has a first end supported upon the mobile body and a second end movable relative the mobile body. A cutting tool is operatively supported upon the second end of the arm. The cutting tool includes a blade configured for rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically pruning vines grown in a row in a cordon-leading manner has a chassis, a pre-pruning module, a clear-cutting module and a position sensor. The clear-cutting module is positioned behind the pre-pruning module and has cutters thereon. The position sensor is forward of the clear-cutting module so as to locate the cordon and to position the cutter so as to achieve a clear cut from a periphery of the cordon. The clear-cutting module has upper cutters, lower cutters and lateral cutters.

Abstract: A device for cultivating a crop, such as a tree or plant, includes a rotary body which is rotatable about an axis of rotation. At least one cutting member is provided, which is fastened to the rotary body in such a way that the cutting member, during the rotation of the rotary body, defines a substantially circular path. The cutting member is configured in such a way that a crop located radially within the path can be cultivated along said the path.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a hand-guided working machine for agriculture, forestry and horticulture applications. The drive arrangement comprises an electric motor, a DC power source for electrical energy, and a control apparatus for the electric motor which is fed from the DC power source. The electric motor has a specific, in particular linear, characteristic curve between the electric current which is consumed by the electric motor and the rotational speed of an output shaft of the electric motor. The control apparatus has current-limiter which limits the current which flows through the electric motor to a maximum value in order to protect the electric motor against overloading. The control apparatus limits the current consumption of the electric motor in a range of low rotational speeds to values which are considerably smaller than the characteristic curve values which are given for these rotational speeds by the characteristic curve of the electric motor, as a function of the rotational speed.

Abstract: A mechanical pruner has a hinged trimming head that allows the trimming of grape vines growing on sloped ground. The trimming head has hedgers with forward facing cutting teeth and rotating combers that open up the grape vine canopy and pull the vines into the cutting path. By also allowing for multiple adjustments in the height of the pruner, lateral position of the trimming head, lateral position of the hedger relative to the trimming head, and both the lateral and vertical positions of the combers relative to the trimming head, the mechanical pruner provides a user with significant control over the trimming of grapevines.

Abstract: A mobile silvicultural apparatus for use in a land of trees comprising mature trees and immature trees. The apparatus includes a steerable wheeled support frame, an articulated boom, a motor system, and a control system. The steerable wheeled support frame has a horizontally extending ground-clearing section, and first and second opposite vertical side sections. The ground-clearing and side sections define a tunnel-shaped passage through which the immature trees are allowed to pass as the support frame travels thereover. The articulated boom is mounted to the support frame for selectively manipulating the mature trees. The motor system is used for imparting motion to the support frame and the control system is used for controlling the steerable support frame, the motor system, and the articulated boom.

Abstract: A land clearing tractor and process are provided for selectively clearing a land of brush and trees. The tractor has a traction unit for moving the tractor along a direction of travel. A supporting frame is connected to the traction unit. The frame has first and second sides, and a raised section between the first and second sides. A first shredder head is operatively connected to the first side of the frame and oriented parallel to the direction of travel. The first shredder head is movable between elevated and lowered positions for clearing brush and trees in a first band. A second shredder head is operatively connected to the second side of the frame. The second shredder head is parallel to the first shredder head and is spaced apart therefrom. The second shredder head is movable between elevated and lowered positions for clearing brush and trees in a second band spaced apart from the first band. Thereby, the tractor leaves between the first and second bands a residual band of brush and trees.

Abstract: A pruning machine for pruning vegetation includes a frame arranged for connection to a tractor or the like so as to enable the machine to be moved along the vegetation to be pruned. A first pruning assembly is arranged for attachment to the frame, the first pruning assembly including first and second pruning apparatus arranged so that in use they can be positioned either side of a vegetation support wire on which required vegetation is located. The first and second pruning apparatus are arranged to prune non-required vegetation extending substantially above and/or below the support wire.

Abstract: Implements for attaching to a hand-held, powered “Weed-Eater” type device to perform various work or chores (filament cutting, blade cutting, brushing, blowing, mixing, etc.). After disconnecting the device's original implement typically a spool of filament (6) with a bumper feed (7), an initial, cultivator/cutter implement (10), cylindrical in shape with a substantially solid, circular top (12) and a relatively thin, continuous wall of constant thickness, is attached by an appropriate threaded member (e.g. a nut or bolt, usually with one or more washers) to the bottom end of the powered device (FIGS. 1A-D) through a central opening (13). The cultivator's top includes a series of circumferentially spaced, “snap-in” openings (14; e.g. two or more) through and into which other implements (e.g. those of FIGS. 3-20) can be attached (FIGS.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the shaping of a part of a plant. To this end, the plant and cutting device are rotated with respect to each other and excess material is removed. These cutting devices can be either moveable or fixed in relation to the surroundings. The point of contact of the cutting device and the plant lies, as far as possible, `upstream`, seen in the direction of rotation. The plant can then be potted and the pot can be rotated or, the plant can be stationary while the cutting device rotates with respect to the central axis of the plant.

Abstract: A mowing machine for cutting plants with radially protruding blades of upper and lower blade disks which are coaxially disposed and rotated under the hood that is disposed at the end of a handle. The upper blade disk has a ring gear, the lower blade disk has a sun gear, and a transmission gear is provided between the ring gear and the sun gear and meshes these gears so as to rotate the ring and sun gears in the opposite directions, thus rotating the upper and lower blade disks in the opposite directions for producing a shearing force that cuts the plants.

Abstract: Machine for the automatic or semi-automatic trimming or cutting of vines and espalier-trained trees or shrubs. The machine includes at least one cutting assembly constituted by a plurality of cutting tools stacked about a common shaft. Each of these cutting tools includes a rotative circular cage having the shape of a scalloped disk with notches extending toward the cage interior and demarcated by teeth (5). The teeth include an extreme portion and superposed bars . The superposed bars extend from this extreme portion in the direction of the rotational axis of the rotating cage. Each of these cutting tools also includes an interior member which participates in the cutting action, and is housed in the rotating cage. The extreme portion of the teeth of the rotating cages forms a projecting angle, and the inclined edges of this pointed portion are provided with at least one notch.

Abstract: Trimming apparatus adapted to trim evergreen and like trees into a conical shape as well as mowing weeds and grass on the ground around the trees. The trimming apparatus includes a mobile self-propelled riding power platform with an upwardly and outwardly extending cutter means to trim a tree as the powered platform is driven around the tree. The platform further provides a mower cutting means mounted under the platform for cutting grass and weeds around the base of a tree.

Abstract: The present invention is an automated pruning apparatus that requires little or no follow-up hand pruning and requires no sensors to avoid supportive trunks or posts. The present invention uses at least one pair of flat, close angled toothed, counter rotating blades. Woody branches are directed to the counter rotating blades first with a lifting arm and secondly by a quilled drum.

Abstract: A tool-supporting attachment to be mounted on a vehicle for use in suspending motorized tools which must be carried on long distances is disclosed. This attachment comprises levelling means to permit to its upper frame portion to always be in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the ground on which the vehicle is moved such that the tools are always kept at a constant height above the ground.

Abstract: A device for supplying power to a plurality of power driven plant trimming tools is formed by a wheeled vehicle having a pair of driving wheels mounted on a vehicle frame. At least one steered wheel is rotatably mounted on the vehicle frame and is pivotal about a vertical axis for steering the vehicle. An engine is supported by the vehicle frame, and a power source is driven by the engine for supplying power to the power driven plant trimming tools. A telescopic arm and connector supporting structure, having a pair of telescopic arms is provided. A plurality of telescopic sections form each telescopic arm. Each telescopic section is constructed as a lattice. A hollow tube forms a part of each lattice and is interconnected with hollow tubes forming a part of other lattices of the telescopic arm.

Abstract: A self-propelled, self-steered vehicle for carrying a source of pressurized fluid to power and operate a plurality of manually controlled trimming tools for trimming plants in a cultivated field. The vehicle may have one of two steering devices. One steering device includes a steering lever connected to a steered wheel carrier. The steering lever includes a cable guiding element which cooperates with a guiding cable passing therethrough to constantly orient the steering lever towards an anchored end of the cable so that the wheeled vehicle automatically follows the entire unwound length of the guiding cable. Another steering device includes feelers extending outwardly of the vehicle to contact fixed objects to cause, by cooperation of the feelers with sprockets, steered wheels of the vehicle to turn away from a fixed object contacted by a feeler. Additionally, pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source is passed through moisture trapping baffles fitted in the supporting frame of the vehicle.

Abstract: A self-propelled, self-steered vehicle for carrying a source of pressurized fluid to power and operate a plurality of manually controlled trimming tools for trimming plants in a cultivated field. The vehicle has a steering device that includes a pilot wheel that follows a pre-formed furrow, and that causes movement of a steered wheel to follow lateral deviations of the furrow and thereby steer the unit therealong. The vehicle draws a trailer that carries a supporting structure including a vertically telescopic boom and a pair of transversely extending telescopic arms that support a plurality of coiled branch conduits that communicate with an air compressor carried by the vehicle and that terminate in suitable connectors. The conduits provide compressed air to the respective trimming tools at transversely spaced positions relative to the vehicle, to permit a plurality of trimmer tool operators to simultaneously trim a plurality of plants or trees.

Abstract: A system for growing and harvesting perennial, hedge-type, harvestable plants is provided which permits greater utilization of sunlight for photosynthesis, more efficient use of the land, and control of evapotranspiration through wind control. The plants are in rows, running in a substantially east-west direction, and are cut and harvested so that their "sun" surface(s) is not horizontal, but, rather, faces the direction of the sun's rays during the peak growing time of the day throughout the prime growing season of the year. The surface is generally cut to expose a maximum growing surface of the plant to sunlight and in this sense is analogous to solar collectors in solar home or hot water heating systems. The rows of plants are so spaced relative to adjacent rows to permit sunlight to fall on most of the planar surface of the hedge, but such that one row will not cast a dense shadow on a portion of another row.

Abstract: A foliage trimmer having a housing connected to a source of suction, a fly cutter rotatably mounted therein, and a bar cutter mounted along the lower leading edge of the housing. The fly cutter and the bar cutter are driven simultaneously by drive means mounted on the housing.